How to Sleep Train Your Baby

"The method of sleep training matters, but parents' consistency with their chosen method matters more."

What is Sleep Training?

Sleep training is the process of teaching babies how to sleep independently: how to fall asleep independently and how to stay asleep throughout the night and nap time. The process of sleep training teaches babies how to self-soothe, which means they develop the skill to relax themselves and fall asleep on their own. Sleep training helps babies fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.

There are many different methods of sleep training, but there are a few main categories of sleep training methods. Every method has its pros and cons. The methods that involve more crying tend to work faster, if applied properly and consistently. But the process can be emotionally taxing for the parents. The methods that claim to involve no crying generally take much longer to see results, but they allow the parent to be more present with their baby during the process.

One thing all effective sleep training methods have in common is that parents do not hold their babies to lull them to sleep. Falling asleep must happen while babies are on their own sleep surface, not on the parent.

When Should I Start Sleep Training?

Before starting the sleep training process, parents should confirm with their child’s pediatrician that their child is fully healthy, gaining weight appropriately, and with no medical conditions that should be considered. 

Sleep training should never be done while a child is sick with a cold, the flu, or even with an ear infection. Factors such as constipation and severe eczema should also be addressed before sleep training. Anything that causes discomfort for your baby should be addressed before sleep training.

Also, sleep training should not begin within 24 hours after your baby has been vaccinated. 

With the right safety-approved program, newborns as young as 2 weeks old can start a healthy sleep routine. Infants that are at least 3 months old and gaining weight appropriately can start a plan that eliminates all night feedings and helps them sleep 11-12 hours at night without interruption.

Sleep Training Methods

#1- Extinction

Extinction, otherwise known as the “Cry It Out” method instructs parents to leave the baby in a safe sleeping environment and then close the door, remaining out of the room until morning. Babies can cry for as long as it takes for them to fall asleep at the start of the night and in the middle of the night. 

This method has developed a poor reputation because some think it’s cruel or harmful to the baby. However, studies show that when this method is used in a loving home, there are no negative effects to babies psychologically or physically. 

Pros, Cons, & How Long Does It Take?

The drawback of this method is that it is emotionally challenging for the parent. The extended periods of crying can be draining and daunting to parents. The benefit of this method is that it works the fastest. Babies can learn to sleep independently and quietly in just a few nights.

#2- Leave and Check

Leave and check methods are limited cry solutions. They do not allow babies to cry indefinitely. They rely on intervals to allow the baby the opportunity to self-soothe before the parent intervenes to assist in calming the baby. After specified periods of crying, parents soothe their baby without picking him up. 

The Ferber method is a popular leave and check method using increasing intervals of time every instance parents check on their baby. For example, the parent might soothe the baby after 5 minutes of crying the first round and then after 10 minutes of crying the second round. 

Other leave and check methods might use the same interval of time for each round. For example, the parent might set a timer for 5 minutes and soothe the baby every time the baby consistently cries for 5 minutes.

Pros, Cons, & How Long Does It Take?

Leave and check methods can be emotionally challenging because when babies cry, it induces stress in parents, even if it is only for a few minutes at a time. Parents appreciate that this method includes more parental comfort and soothing than extinction does. This method can also be effective relatively quickly. Leave and check methods can see results within the first 3 nights and can be complete within 3-7 days if applied properly and consistently.

#3- Pick Up, Put Down

This method instructs the parent to wait initially, but then allows the parent to pick the baby up to soothe him, but only for a short period of time. Then the parent puts the baby down again. The parent repeats this process until the baby falls asleep. 

Pros, Cons, & How Long Does It Take?

This method relieves parents when they are able to hold their baby to soothe her. But it takes a significant amount of patience, consistency, and time to complete. On average, it takes up to two hours for the baby to fall asleep on the first night. This method takes much longer to complete than extinction and leave and check methods. It could take several weeks.

#4- Chair

The chair method invites the parent to remain in the room while the baby falls asleep. The parent places a chair next to the baby’s crib and watches the baby until she falls asleep. The parent moves the chair further from the crib each night until eventually the chair is outside of the room.

Pros, Cons, & How Long Does It Take?

This method can be comforting to parents because they don’t feel like they are abandoning their baby. They are able to remain present during the process. But the chair method can be challenging because parents watch their baby cry and reach for them, while unable to pick him up. Also, this method typically takes much longer than extinction or leave and check methods do. The chair method usually takes 2-3 weeks to complete.

How to Prepare for Success

Considering the pros and cons of each method, decide which is best for your family. Whichever method you choose, commit to following every step consistently, and you will eventually succeed. Avoid mixing different methods or sending mixed messages to your baby through inconsistent behaviors. These actions can prolong or even thwart the process. Also, be patient with the process. It takes time, but it is a very short-term sacrifice considering the long-term benefits of a healthy sleep foundation.

If your baby is not making progress within the expected timeframe of the method you choose, first evaluate your baby's sleep environment and then check with your pediatrician to discover if there is any condition causing irritability during the night (ie. allergies, eczema, constipation, ear infection, cold, or another underlying medical condition).